NBA Rumors: 76ers' Paul George Consulting with Doctors on Injuries; Surgery Possible

Just when you thought the 2024-25 season couldn't get any worse for the Philadelphia 76ers, ESPN's Shams Charania reported Thursday that star wing Paul George "is consulting with doctors this week on treatment options for his groin and knee injuries."

According to Charania, surgery is among the possibilities, and a final decision could come by early next week.

A segment of Sixers fans will argue shutting the nine-time All-Star down is better for the organization's overall outlook.

Philly is 13th in the Eastern Conference at 22-43. Forget about earning a top-six seed. Qualifying for the play-in tournament is probably out of the question at this point.

With 2022-23 MVP Joel Embiid already out for the year, the 76ers might as well fully embrace their current situation and focus on improving their draft odds. For now, they have a 9.8 percent chance of getting the No. 1 pick and 39.5 percent odds of landing in the top four, per Tankathon.

Their first-round pick will go to the Thunder if they land seventh or worse in the lottery.

Having the opportunity to take Duke star Cooper Flagg or one of Rutgers' Ace Bailey or Dylan Harper would be big for Philadelphia from two different standpoints.

The front office would have an easier time pivoting to a younger nucleus down the road if the championship window with Embiid and George is closed for good. In the event president of basketball operations Daryl Morey is still thinking only in the short term, then having a top-three selection would help to compensate for the fact George might be declining far quicker than anybody expected.

The 34-year-old has missed 24 games through injury, and he has performed at well below his usual standards when he did suit up. He has his third-worst scoring average over a full season and also his third-lowest clip from beyond the arc.

Flagg, Bailey or Harper could serve as an eventual successor to George in a Big Three with Embiid and Maxey, or Morey would have a valuable trade chip to help land more veteran talent.

The Sixers might be on a road to nowhere unless they receive a massive stroke of good fortune soon. Accidentally backsliding their way to the top of the 2025 draft would probably qualify.